Punch support



-` April 16, 1940.y

'w. Ru'rHvEN PUNCH SUPPRT -Filed .me 3,' 1959 I Flea( l /NvfA/rok W. Ruff/v5# 57 WM Patented Apr. 16, 1940 UNITED STAT-ES PATENT QFFHCEv William Ituthven,r Oak Park, Ill., assigner to Western Electric Companylncorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of New York Application June 3, 1939, serial Nazvmao 6 Claims.

be punched is commonly limited to the diameter of the punch for all practical purposes. It is common knowledge that punches or perforators will bend or break if an attempt is made to punch 10 holes or apertures in materials of a thickness greater than the diameter of the punch because the punch is usually not supported sufficiently.

The object of this invention is to overcome these objectionable features in punches or perforators and to provide an efcientsupporting means for the punch or perforator which will permit punching or perforating of material of a considerably greater thickness than the diameter of the punch without complicating in any Way the common method of operating the same.

In attaining these objects encircling sleeves or supports are provided for the punch which support the same substantially its entire length and circumference during the punching operation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be understood by reference to the following specification and accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional view of a punching mechanism in which two punches supported in accordance with this invention are shown;

Fig. 2 is a View taken on line 2-2 of Fig. 1, and

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a punch and support at the completion of the perforating or punching stroke.

In the drawing, the usual simpleform of punching mechanism is shown by way of illustration. Referring to Fig. 1, the dies and die block are indicated at l0. The reciprocating punch holder I l is provided with a securing plate I2 and a stripper plate I3 slidably secured to the holder II by means of bolts I4 passing through coiled springs I5 adapted to force the stripper plate I3 in its extended position.

The support for the punch or perforator I'l is preferably constructed of two sleeves or sectional supports I8 and I9 substantially surrounding the punch or perfo-rator throughout its length. The

sleeves or sections I8 and I9 are separated fromv each other by overlapping opposing cooperating spaced surfaces 20 and 2| formed at an angle to the center line of the punch or perforator.

. It has been found that the angular separation of the sleeves or sections I8 and I9 can be varied vholder I I.

lthat theholders be prevented from rotating in to give satisfactory results. The angle of the separating surfaces to the center line ofthe punch depends upon the length of the-stroke desired and the thickness of the materials to be punchedor perforated. 5 The degree of the angleof the separating surfaces 20 and 2I'is selected so that the sleeves or supports I8 and I9 will each encircle, at these surfaces, approximately one-half of the punch or perforator Il at substantially diametrically op- 1| posite positions thereofprior to the starting. of the punching or perfor-ating stroke of the punch The extent of separation along the center line of the punch or perforator I'lof the sleeves or supports I8 and I9 at this time also determines the length of the punching or perforating stroke. It will be readily seen that the opposite semi-circular radial support of the punch at the separation of the upper and lower holders I8 and I9 will provide encircling radial support 20 for the punch at the separation of the supports. The remaining base portions vof the supports i8 and I9 provideradial support for the remaining length of the punch I'I, thus assuring support for the punch VI throughout its entire length and the 25 entire stroke of the punch.

The supports I8 and I9 are illustrated as being circular in cross-section and as will be seen in the drawing this form of holder would require 0 their mounting and for this purpose: locking pins 22 are provided. It is not necessary to limit these holders to cylindrical cross-section however.

The punch mechanism as shown in Fig. l is at the top position or about to start its punching or 35 perforating stroke to punch or perforate material 23. The stripper plate I3 withthe lower half I9 of the sleeves or supports attached thereto is in its lowermost position. In this position the sleeves or supports I8 and I9 are at the maximum separa- 0 tion with substantially one-half the circumference of the lpunch or perforator I'I surrounded and radially supported by sleeve I8 .and the opposite half of the circumference of the punch or 45 perforator I'I in substantially the same horizontal plane surrounded and radially supported. by

the sleeve I9. Upon downward movement of the punching mechanism the stripper plate'I3 contacts the material 23 to be punched as the punch 50 or perfo-rator enters the material. The mechanism as it continues downwardly causes the space between surfaces 20 and 2| to progressivelydiminish, providing progressively increasing support to the punch or perforator II as the punch- 55 1. In a punch mechanism, a punch, and solid.v

supporting members encircling said punch separated from each other by opposed overlapping surfaces.

2. In a punch mechanism, a punch, and supporting members encircling said punch spaced from each other by opposed surfaces disposed at an angle to the center line of the punch.

3. In a punching mechanism, a punch and two supporting members separated from each other at an angle to the center line of the punch.

4. In a punching mechanism, a punch, and two supporting members encircling said punch separated from each other at an angle to the center line of the punch.

5. In a punching mechanism, a punch, and two encircling overlapping supporting members to radially support the punch during the entire stroke of the punch spaced from each other at an vangle to the center line of the punch.

6. In a punching mechanism, a punch, and two supporting members 4having opposed surfaces spaced at an angle to the center line of the punch, each member at its angular surface supporting half the circumference of the punch in the same horizontal plane so 'that the two members together in this plane' entirely encircle the punch to radially support the same.

WILLIAM RUTHVEN. 20 

